Spear



Patented Mar. 28, 1933 vPATENT FriesY AUDREY L. HAMPTON, F HOUSTON',TEXAS lsrnnn Application filed February 8, 1932. Serial No. 591,518.

This invention relates to a spear. An object of the invention is toprovide a spear for insertion into a pipe 1n aV well bore and engageablewith the pipe and whereby` the pipe may be pulled from the bore.

Another object is to provide a spear of the character described whichmay be readily released from the pipe, in case the pipe'can not beIpulled, and maintained in released position while the spear is withdrawnfrom the pipe.

Vith the above and other objects in view this invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction, operation andarrangement of parts an example of which is given in this specilicationand illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 shows avertical sectional view of the spear located in a pipe to be pulled,

Figure 2 shows a fragmentary side view partly in section, and

Figure 3 shows a cross sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like numerals ofreference designate similar parts in each of the figures the numeral 1designates a tubular mandrel to the upper end of which the operatingstringr 2 1s attached. Around the mandrel there is a tubular expanderformed of the lower and upper sections 3, 4 and the upper end of theupper section is formed with an annular outwardly extending stop 5.vThese sections 3, 4 are clutched together by the intermeshing prongs 6,7 which permit the sections 3, 4 to move longitudinally, relativev toeach other but which prevent their relative rotation. The. lower section8 is downwardly flared externally and its lower end has the internal,coarse, left hand threads 8 and the lower end of the mandrel is enlargedand has the coarse threads 9 to mesh with the threads 8.

On the expander there is a slip sleeve 10 whose lower end is formed withthe yieldable arms 11. The lower ends of these arms carry the slips 12whose outer sides are toothed and whose inner sides are flared toconform to the contour of the iiared portion of the expander.

The .slip sleeve 10 has the inwardly extending studs 13 which work inthe vertical slots 14 out through the expander section 4.

Themandrel 1 has the externally threaded section 15 which has a righthand threaded connection with the upper end of the expander section 4.

In use the spear may be assembled as shown in Figure 1 and let down intothe stuck pipe 16 until the stop 5 landson the upper end of the pipe. Anupward pull may then be. exerted, through the string 2 and mandrel landthe lower section 3, of the expander, will be correspondingly movedupwardly and will wedge between and expand the slips 12 into engagementwith the stuck pipe 16. This pipe may thus be dislodged and pulled fromthe well. As a pull is exerted on the mandrel 1 it will move upwardlycarrying the stop 5 above the upper end of the pipe 16, the mandrelsection 4 moving upwardly relative to the slip sleeve 10 and studs 13 inthe slots 14.

If the pipe 16' can not be pulled the operating stem may be released topermit it, together with the mandrel 1, to move downwardly until thestop 5 again lands on the upper end of the pipe 6 and the expander willbe forced downwardly to release the slips 12. The string 1 may then beturned tothe right, moving downwardly through the section 4, saidsection being held against turning by the studs 13, which in turn areheld against turning by the frictional engagement of the slips 12 withthe pipe 16. As the mandrel 1 is thus turned the intermeshing left handthreads will cause the lower expander section to move downwardlyrelative to its upper section and relative to the slips 12, said slipsbeing now supported, by the studs 13, from said upper section 4. Upon anupward pull being now exerted on the string 2 the expander section 8will be maintained out of Contact with the slips 12 and said slips willnot be expanded and ille spear may be readily pulled from the pipe 16.

The drawing and description disclose what is now considered thepreferred form of the invention by way of illustration only while thebroad principle of the invention will be dened by the appended claims.

That l claim is l. A spear comprising a mandrel, a sectional expanderaround the mandrel, said mandrel being connected to the sections of theexpander by reversely pitched threads, an expansible pipe engaging meanson the expander connected to the upper section thereof, meansinterconnecting the said section to permit their relative longitudinalmovement but to prevent the relative rotation.

2. A spear comprising a mandrel, an expander thereon formed of upper andlower sections, means connecting the mandrel to said sections wherebythe length of the expander may be varied by one way rotation of themandrel relative to the expander, a pipe engaging device on, andconnected to the upper section of, the expander'.

3. A spear comprising a mandrel, an expander thereon formed of upper andlower sections, means connecting` the mandrel to said sections wherebythe length of the expander may be varied by the rotation oi the mandrelrelative to the expander, a pipe engaging device on, and connected toone section of, the expander, the other ex )ander section being shapedto actuate said device into engagement with a surrounding pipe upon anappropriate relative movement of said other section and said engagingdevice.

4. A spear Comprising a mandrel, an expander thereon formed of upper andlower sections, means connecting the mandrel to said sections wherebythe length of the expander may be varied by the rotation of the mandrelrelative to the expander, a pipe engaging device on, and connected toone section of, the expander, and an external stop on said uppersection.

5. A spear comprising a mandrel, an expander thereon formed of upper andlower sections, right and left hand threads connecting the mandrel tosaid respective sections whereby the length of the expander may bevaried by the rotation of the mandrel relative thereto, an expansiblepipe engaging device on the expander and connected to said upper sectionand whose transverse diameter may be varied as said expander is sovaried.

6. A spear comprising a mandrel, an expander thereon formed of sectionshaving a slip joint connection, right and left hand threads connectingthe mandrel to the respective expander sections for moving said sectionslengthwise relative to each other, as the mandrel is rotated relative tothe expander, an expansible pipe engaging device on the expanderconnected to and having a limited longitudinal movement relative to, oneof said sections, the other section being shaped to expand said device`7. A spear comprising a mandrel, an expander thereon formed of sectionshaving a slip joint connection, means connecting the mandrel to therespective expander sections for moving said sections lengthwiserelative to each other, as the mandrel is rotated relative to theexpander, an expansible pipe engaging device on the expander connectedto and having a limited longitudinal movement relative to, one of saidsections, an external stop on said last mentioned section, the othersection being shaped to expand said device upon an appropriatelongitudinal movement of said other section relative to said engag ingdevice.

8. A spear comprising a tubular mandrel, an expander around the mandrelformed of upper and lower sections, an outwardly extending stop carriedby the upper section, intermeshing prongs forming a clutch between saidupper and lower sections formed to permit their relative longitudinalmovement but to prevent their relative rotation, right and left handthreads connecting the mandrel with the upper and lower sectionsrespectively, said lower section being downwardly flared, a slip sleeveon the expander formed with depending yieldable arms, slips carried bythe lower ends of said arms and arranged to be expanded by the lowersections of said expander, said sleeve and the upper expander sectionbeing provided one with a vertical slot and the other with a stud whichworks in said slot.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

AUDREY L. HAMPTON.

